When we adopt a dog we think we're doing it a favor, giving it a home. What do they give us in return? It has been proven that pets can make us happier and healthier people. They give us companionship and loyalty and acceptance. What a bargain!
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October is Adopt-a-Dog Month, a time when animal shelters and rescue groups encourage potential pet owners to consider adopting one of the great pets that are in need of a home. If you’re thinking you might like to adopt a dog, the American Humane Association published a list of characteristics found in the perfect dog owner. See if some of these may apply to you.
For example, you might be the perfect dog owner if - you look forward to big, wet kisses when you come home each day.
You qualify if you don’t mind sharing your house with someone who sheds, drools, tracks in dirt and never cleans up after itself. You would enjoy a playmate that likes to chase balls, play with toys and drag your shoes off, while it slobbers on those balls and toys and shoes.
You’re a perfect dog owner you want someone to take care of every day - someone who will adore you - and you look forward to caring for a pet for ten or fifteen years, or more - and you don’t mind spending your extra money on pet food, chew bones, toys, leashes, chew bones, veterinary care, more chew bones.
You may be the perfect dog owner if you would keep an ID tag on your pet, or have it microchipped (or both) so that it could find its way back to you no matter what happens - if you would never think of moving and leaving your devoted pet behind.
The perfect dog owner believes that neutering or spaying a pet will not only make it healthier and help it to live longer but also will help to reduce the problem of pet overpopulation.
You could be the perfect dog owner if you enjoy unconditional love and constant companionship. You may think a friend like that is hard to find, but in your community there are a lot of homeless pets who simply need a home and an owner to love them and care for them.
Visit your local animal shelter or rescue group today and find out how rewarding it can be to adopt a dog. According to Roger Caras, “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Adopting a dog will save an animal’s life, and may just help make your life whole, when you’re speaking of pets.
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